Post by (Cazanne) on Mar 5, 2009 12:37:47 GMT

NHS prescription charges in England are to go up from £7.10 to £7.20 from April, ministers have announced.The cost of a dental check-up on the NHS in England will also increase by 30p to £16.50.The announcement came on the day doctors' leaders called on the government to abolish prescription charges for all patients in England.The British Medical Association (BMA) said the current system was not working and was "iniquitous" for many patients.Prescriptions are free for everyone in Wales, will be free in Northern Ireland by 2010 and in Scotland by 2011.

Prescription ChargesEngland: £7.20 [from April]Scotland: Phased out by 2011Wales: No charge since 2007Northern Ireland: £3 from January 2009, phased out by April 2010The BMA has accused the government of supporting an "outdated" system in England which can harms patients' health of many because, it says, charging can put people off paying for the medication they need.But the government has stressed that 89% of prescription charges in England are dispensed for free.Pensioners and children are exempt from the charges, as are pregnant women, people on benefits and patients with certain conditions.Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "The remainder [of paid-for prescription charges] provide valuable income to the NHS, which goes towards to the safety and speed of healthcare."But we are making the system fairer. Cancer patients will be eligible for free prescriptions from 1 April and we're looking at how we can do the same for people with long-term conditions."